- Born
- Died
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Barbara Leigh-Hunt trained for the theatre at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, then joined the Old Vic Company in London. After working in provincial repertory theatres she returned to the Bristol Old Vic to play Rosemary in 'A Severed Head', and transferred with the play to the West End. She returned again to Bristol to appear in 'Love's Labour's Lost' and 'Henry V', then toured Europe and Israel with them. She returned again to Bristol for further productions, then went on an American tour in 'Measure For Measure' and as Ophelia, opposite her husband Richard Pasco who was in the title role of 'Hamlet'. After her return to England she had a big success in the 1968 West End production of 'Mrs Mouse Are You Within'. Following this she made many appearances at the Old Vic, with the RSC at the Aldwych Theatre, and at the National Theatre.
She made her television debut in 1956 in a episode of The Recording Angells (1956), followed over the years by appearances in episodes of series such as Callan (1967), Special Branch (1969), Inspector Morse (1987), The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987) and Kavanagh QC (1995), along with mini-series including The Brontës of Haworth (1973), A Perfect Hero (1991) and Wives and Daughters (1999). Her film debut was in 1972 in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), which was quickly followed by Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), in which she played Catherine Parr, and Bequest to the Nation (1973). Subsequently her film appearances have been few, though they have included Billy Elliot (2000).- IMDb Mini Biography By: tonyman5
- SpouseRichard Pasco(November 18, 1967 - November 12, 2014) (his death)
- She was a long-time friend of Dame Judi Dench and Michael Williams and was made godmother to the couple's daughter, Finty Williams.
- In The Infernal Serpent (1990) she plays a piano teacher. The student in one scene is playing the same tune that Elizabeth Bennet plays at "Rosings" in Pride and Prejudice (1995), when Lady Catherine (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) says (referring to the pianoforte) "If I had ever learnt, I should be a true proficient".
- She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1993 (1992 season) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in "An Inspector Calls", at the Royal National Theatre.
- Cousin of actor Ronald Leigh-Hunt.
- [July 14th, 2012] I adored Hitch and making Frenzy was a wonderful time. He went out of his way and was kindness personified, he knew I was exceedingly nervous. If I had a question he would always courteously explain something to me. Every day he would give me a lift home where I was staying in Baker Street before going onto Claridges. Alma was of ill health and he was very concerned about her, but it impressed me how he was so considerate towards me at the time.
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